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Michigan Athletics | March 22, 2015

Carol Hutchins earns 1,400th career win as Michigan routs Ohio State

Carol Hutchins has coached Michigan softball since 1985.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Michigan head coach Carol Hutchins earned her 1,400th career victory in memorable fashion as the No. 4-ranked Wolverines cruised to a 20-0, five-inning rout over rival Ohio State on Sunday. Hutchins is just the third coach to reach 1,400 wins in NCAA softball history; she is the second winningest active coach.

The Wolverines knocked out five home runs, including two apiece from Amanda Vargas and Taylor Swearingen. Vargas, a day removed from her first collegiate grand slam, led U-M with five runs batted in. Aidan Falk recorded the Wolverines' other homer in a two-hit, three-RBI effort. Kelly Christner matched her career best with a 3-for-3 day at the plate.

Megan Betsa (13-2) was superb from the circle, striking out nine while scattering three hits and a walk en route to her second complete-game shutout of the season. She struck out the side in the third innings and two apiece in the first and second.

Michigan jumped on the Buckeyes immediately, plating six runs in the top of the first. Then Vargas knocked out a three-run shot to left field to highlight a 10-run second inning.

The Wolverines padded their lead with two-run blasts from Swearingen and Vargas in the third and fifth innings, respectively. It was Vargas' first career multi-homer game and Swearingen's second.

Ohio State put a runner in scoring position in the fourth, but a 5-3 double play quickly ended the threat. Betsa went 1-2-3 on nine pitches in the bottom of the fifth, earning her ninth strikeout for the first out before forcing a groundout and fielding a comebacker to close out the game.